Pakowki Lake: Conditions and Indicators

WATER QUANTITY

WATER DATA GAPS

Providing an improved understanding of the current State of the Watershed is a vital first step in developing an adaptive management framework that enables the research, actions, and best practices needed to improve the health of the watershed.

There currently exists some significant (and several minor) data and information gaps within the Pakowki Lake Sub-watershed. These gaps are the result of missing or incomplete datasets, infrequent or inconsistent monitoring and sampling practices, and the absence of scientifically-based indicator thresholds. This has resulted in missing knowledge and insights for some of the “Conditions and Indicators” and “Risks and Pressures” sections contained within the sub-basin profiles.

With funding and program reductions to water monitoring programs across the province, SEAWA and all Alberta WPACs and Watershed Stewardship Groups continue to face a significant and growing challenge to monitor and report on the health of their watersheds.

In spite of these difficulties, and with the support of dedicated and volunteer-based members and organizations, much of the readily-available indicator data and information has been identified, collected, analyzed and incorporated into this SEAWA website.

Going forward, the SEAWA believes it is critically important to resolve and address gaps in water data and information, in order to develop a strategic, systematic and consistent approach towards the sustainable management of this watershed.

These efforts are underway, and if you or your organization have any water-related data or information that you would like to share, we encourage you to contact SEAWA.